Staying Power: Preserving Local Ownership in Gentrifying Cities

Owners, executives, and bosses hold their own businesses back. That statement might hit a little hard if you fit the description. You might protest and say, “No, it’s the market!” or “it’s the competition!” or “it’s our lack of ___________(fill in the blank with your most frustrating operational challenge!” Conversely, you might agree with this…

Abstract Place-based community development in America has a rich history. Practices and procedures for successful redevelopment are supported by lobbying efforts, public administration, policy, federal funding, and the efforts of non-profits dedicated to neighborhood revitalization. Community revitalization work is often centered around specific geographic locations, while in recent decades modern technology has caused social networks…

A reminder for the change-makers. Before I was a consultant, I was the Chief Executive Officer of a small CDFI credit union in Chicago. It was small enough that I knew quite a few members by name. One quiet afternoon, I was standing at the teller station with an employee. We struck up a conversation…

Your organization has a clear mission and vision, and solves a societal problem. So, you invest in accomplishing your organization’s mission by spending time, attention, and financial resources. Your organization structure is less relevant than the specific impact you have in mind to change the world. You track outcomes and impact, and know where you…

Intentional change doesn’t come from accidental success. Your leadership team has decided it wants to make a big impact on ‘the community.’ The project could range from launching a new financial education program to running a charitable drive for a local school. Whatever the scope, you want to help your corner of the world gain…